Nano domain Al substituted Zinc ferrite was prepared by chemical route using Ethylene Diamine as ligand. High purity precursors nitrate salts of Zinc, Fe(3+), Al(3+) were utilized along with citric acid which acts as both fuel and complexing agent. Two different molar ratios of Zn(2+):(Fe3+):Al(3+) is 1:1.5:0.5 and 1:1.25:0.75. After ensuring proper mix of the solution Ethylene diamine was added dropwise to form a gel like mass with proper pH control. Before annealing, thermal analysis was carried to determine the crystallization/phase transition zone. Drying was carried in several stages. Initially, gel like mass was obtained after drying at 40°C while pH was about 7. Drying of gel was carried in oil bath at about 90°C and powdered mass obtained was grinded followed by auto combustion at 150°C for 60 minutes before annealing at 150°C, 350°C, 650°C, 950°C for 2 hours to ensure the phase formation. Crystallite size, lattice strain and lattice parameters were studied from XRD analysis.
Formation of defect-fluorite structured NdNiOxHy epitaxial thin films via a soft chemical route from NdNiO3 precursors
